‘Request to Terminate Your Google Account’ Scam Email

According to this email, which purports to be from Gmail Account Services, your request to terminate your Google Account has been accepted.

It asks that you reply to the email if you wish to cancel the termination request or get further help. The message warns that, if you do not cancel the termination request, all of your emails will be deleted and account access will then be denied.

However, the email is not from Google and the claim that your Google Account is about to be terminated is untrue.

In fact, the email is a phishing scam designed to trick you into divulging your personal information to criminals.

If you reply as instructed, you will then be asked to supply your Google Account username and password in order to cancel the supposed termination request. They may also ask you to send further personal and financial details, ostensibly as a means of proving that you are the account owner.

The scammers will use the login credentials you send to hijack your Google Account. Once they have gained access, they can use the account to send spam and scam emails, steal more of your personal information, and conduct fraudulent app store transactions.

And, if they are able to collect enough of your personal information, they may be able to steal your identity as well.

Phishing scam emails like this one are very common. Most versions try to trick you into supplying your personal information by clicking a link or opening an attached file. This version takes an alternative approach by asking that you simply reply to the message.

This approach allows criminals to bypass security filters that may thwart their attempts to steal information via links or attached files. And, it also allows the criminals to concentrate their efforts on just those vulnerable recipients who are gullible or inexperienced enough to actually reply to such a transparent scam email

If you receive an email like the example shown below, do not reply to it. Do not click any links or open any attachments that it may contain.

Always login to your Google Account by entering the address into your browser’s address bar or via a trusted app.

An example of the scam email:

Subject: Final Notice

🚫 Request To Terminate Your Google™ Account Has Been Accepted.

Dear Gmail™ Customer,

You submitted a request to terminate your Gmail mail account and the process has started by our Gmail™ Team, Please give us 3 working days to close your mail account.

To cancel the termination request reply to this mail.

All files on your Gmail mail including (Inbox, Sent, Spam, Trash, Draft) will be deleted and access to your Gmail™ mail account will be Denied.

If you wish to Terminate your Email Address, you can Sign Up for a new Gmail™ account.